What is it like being Timur Bekmambetov? No artist should be confused too closely with his creations, but anybody who sits through “Wanted,” Bekmambetov’s new movie, will be tempted to wonder if the life style of the characters might not reflect or rub off on that of the director. How, for example, does he make a cup of coffee? My best guess, based on the evidence of the film, is that he tosses a handful of beans toward the ceiling, shoots them individually into a fine powder, leaves it hanging in the air, runs downstairs, breaks open a fire hydrant with his head, carefully directs the jet of water through the window of his apartment, sets fire to the building, then stands patiently with his mug amid the blazing ruins to collect the precious percolated drops. Don’t even think about a cappuccino. READ MORE.

Being new to the world of Devi and still very green in the ways of Witchblade, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this comic. To my pleasant surprise, this book was new reader friendly, with solid storytelling techniques and gorgeous art. Just what I look for in a new read. READ MORE.

I've been fortunate in life that I've never experienced the loss of someone close to me. That fortune has changed and the feeling is unlike any I have ever experienced. This past weekend the comic world and the people who knew Michael Turner have been dealt a terrible blow by his passing at age 37. READ MORE.

Jim Lee had a "prior engagement" but Erik Larsen, Whilce Portacio, Marc Silvestri, Jim Valentino, Todd McFarlane and Rob Liefeld, were on hand (and only twenty minutes late) Saturday afternoon to their panel at Wizard World Chicago to give their first person perspective on breaking away from Marvel comics in the early '90s to form Image Comics, their own group of individual companies united under a single umbrella. READ MORE.

At the Top Cow panel at Wizard World Chicago '08, it was announced that Michael Avon Oeming will be penciling an upcoming issues of the Phil Hester penned "The Darkness." CBR News caught up with Oeming to get the details on the Viking era "Darkness" tale. READ MORE.

Last year, Top Cow held their first annual Pilot Season competition, in which a series of one-shots by top industry talent, featuring under-utilized Top Cow characters, competed for chance for a full-blown series in 2008. The top two vote-getters were "Pilot Season: Cyblade" and "Pilot Season: Velocity." At WizardWorld Chicago this weekend, it was announced that writer Joe Casey will be joined on the upcoming "Velocity" series by artist ChrisCross. CBR News caught up with ChrisCross, who brought us up to speed. READ MORE.

Pixar’s Wall-E easily took the weekend box office crown with an estimated total of $62.5 million, the fourth best opening for a Pixar film and the strongest debut for an animated feature so far in 2008. While Wall-E fulfilled all expectations, Wanted, which is based on the comic book series by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones, did far better than anyone expected, earning an eye-popping $51.1 million. Together with a strong cast of holdover titles, Wall-E and Wanted led Hollywood to its best weekend of the year so far with a total that topped the corresponding 2007 weekend’s gross by more than 20%, capping off a record setting June. READ MORE.

Sablik showed slides for Broken Trinity, the big summer event for the publisher that was introduced in a Free Comic Book Day issue. The event stars Witchblade Darkness and the Angelus.

"We had First Born last year... this summer we have kind of a thematic book-end to that," Sablik said. "Something's going to break, and we've already said somebody is not going to make it through alive."READ MORE.

As is becoming more and more common for comic publisher’s panels at conventions, Top Cow’s panel at WizardWorld Chicago contained a fair chunk of movie news. We’ll have the comic news in a separate report – but for now....on to Top Cow’s movie biz.

Obviously, the panel featured a staff thrilled by success of the Wanted movie based on the publisher's comic book series. READ MORE.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

This weekend at Wizard World Chicago, Top Cow continued their expansion with a new title by B. Clay Moore and Nelson Blake II. The tentatively titled Iron Maiden One takes the current war on terror and propels it a few years into the future. Newsarama talked with B. Clay Moore, the comic’s writer, to find out more about the story, his methods, and what readers can expect from the book. READ MORE.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

The “Empire” storyline continues from writer Phil Hester (Superman: Confidential, Green Arrow) and artist Michael Broussard (Unholy Union) as Jackie is finally confronted with the reality of his use of The Darkness power in Sierra Muñoz at the hands of the rebels.

The perfect killer always has an airtight alibi. But can anyone be in two places at once? John Stephens can. He's always a suspect whenever a high-profile target is taken out, but he always gets off scot-free because he's off somewhere else, having the time of his life. How can he be responsible? The authorities may be fooled, but now someone knows his secret, and John is going to have to face the consequences. From the people's choice Joshua Hale Fialkov (CYBLADE, PUNKS THE COMICMARVEL COMICS PRESENTS) and artist Jeremy Haun (CIVIL WAR: IRON MAN/CAPTAIN AMERICA, THE LEADING MAN). NOTE: Recommended for mature readers.

In “Wanted,” the new action film based on the Top Cow graphic novel by Mark Millar and JG Jones, actor Thomas Kretschmann plays the elusive Cross, the best assassin in the world and the target star James McAvoy must track down and kill. The enigmatic sharp-shooter says little in the film, allowing his fearsome presence and acumen with a weapon to speak for him. For the German born Kretschmann, the silence of his character was a bonus. “I like not to talk actually in films,” he told CBR News. “For an actor, I think it’s more interesting to express yourself without talking. I personally like that. I also like in regular scripts, where I have like normal [amounts of] dialogue, to cut out as much as I can. Everything, basically what I can play, I don’t like to say. And if a director knows what he’s doing, they get along with that. They seem to like it.”

Top Cow’s “Pilot Season” returns with Alibi, by Joshua Hale Fialkov and Jeremy Haun, about an assassin who’s often a suspect in high-profile hits, but always seems to have an airtight, um, alibi. READ MORE.

Top Cow’s second annual Pilot Season initiative consists of six one-shots by top industry creators featuring new or under-utilized Top Cow characters. After all six issues have hit stands, fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite Pilot Season installments at the Pilot Season MySpace page, and the top two vote-getters will be awarded their own series. In our continuing coverage of Pilot Season ’08, CBR News spoke to one of last year’s winners, writer Joshua Hale Fialokov, about “Pilot Season: Alibi,” a brand-new spy thriller featuring pencils by Jeremy Haun. READ MORE.

Appearances can be deceiving. Although the name "Top Cow" might connotes something more light-hearted, Top Cow Productions is anything but. Founded by Marc Silvestri in 1992, its first title sold 850,000 copies. And then things got better, with the success of titles such as Witchblade, The Darkness, Cyberforce, Wanted and Rising Stars. READ MORE.

In recent years, Top Cow has seen revitalized growth with the reinvigorating of key titles Witchblade and Darkness, the 2007 crossover First Born, creative partnerships with Marvel Comics, and a new yearly initiative titled Pilot Season which showcases one-shot "pilot" issues of titles for fans to vote on to become ongoing series. As these continue to grow, Top Cow is producing a crossover for this summer, Broken Trinity, as well as the second slate of Pilot Season titles. READ MORE.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., June 26, 2008 – Top Cow Productions Inc. announced today they are exhibiting at this weekend’s Wizard World Chicago at the Rosemont Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois and will bring some special guests, unveil exclusive variants and make new announcements about upcoming projects.“Chicago brings out some of the best comics fans in the word and we are excited to be able to present them with the best Top Cow has to offer, especially during opening weekend of the Wanted movie in theaters,” pronounced Mel Caylo, VP-Sales and Marketing, referring to the film based on the Top Cow comic mini-series by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones. “Not only are we bringing CEO and Founder Marc Silvestri to the show, we’ve also invited Puerto-Rico based Madame Mirage artist Kenneth Rocafort, popular Darkness writer Phil Hester and Magdalena/Daredevil artist Eric Basaldua to meet the Midwest fans!”Top Cow will set up shop at Booth #1204 to give convention-goers the opportunity to meet these creators and more, including Pilot Season: Alibi artist Jeremy Haun, longtime fan-favorite Witchblade artist Mike Choi and Darkness: Butcher writer Rob Levin. Three exclusive variant issues will be available at the booth, including a special Ryan Sook cover of First Born: Aftermath, a Kenneth Rocafort cover of The Darkness #4, and a Witchblade #118 cover by Marc Silvestri.In addition, Top Cow will host a presentation on Saturday, June 28, from 4-5 p.m. CDT and will make announcements on new, upcoming projects involving some of the industry’s hottest creators and a new partnership with a mobile phone content provider, so try not to miss it!Here is the full Top Cow schedule of events and signings for the entire weekend:

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

He’s unmasked Spider-Man, turned Superman into a commie, and once sent The Hulk after Freddie Prinze Jr. Now, comic book golden boy Mark Millar talks to Ron Motta of our research department about the movie adaptation of his comic Wanted, due to hit screens June 27th. READ MORE.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Last week, TheQuarterbin brought you a sneak peek of Devi/Witchblade #2, a Top Cow/Virgin Comics crossover event starring Sara Pezzini, who you should all know as the beholder of the Witchblade, and Tara Meht, the human host of goddess Devi. I got a chance to read the full issue, so hit the jump to hear all about it. READ MORE.

"Every generation has one, Lou. Hannibal, Alexander, Washington, Patton. We just might be dealing with the greatest military mind of our time." -- Reggie

LAPD detective Reggie has a theory, that a natural born military genius is uniting the various gangs in an organized war against the LAPD. He calls him Suspect Zero. Unbeknownst to Reggie, Subject Zero is actually an inner city 17-year-old black woman named Destiny.READ MORE.

The seven men groan playfully amidst the shouts of "one more, one more" from the mass of fans holding up their digital cameras and cell phones. Already, several rounds of camera clicking help illuminate and capture the rare image found within the back corner of Atomic Comics in Mesa, Ariz.

"Come on, guys," says Marc Silvestri, as his wife Bridget snaps a few shots of her own. "Who knows when this will happen again?"

The Top Cow CEO continues to smile along with his brothers-in-arms—Jim Lee, Erik Larsen, Whilce Portacio, Rob Liefeld, Jim Valentino and Todd McFarlane—fully aware that in situations like this, "one more" never really means one more.READ MORE.

Jump from the Read Pile. Also, the cover shown here is not what was available at retail. Wow. Really? Wow. This is something all new. On one side, you have a police detective named Grey who's a whiz at numbers and statistical analysis. READ MORE.

For writer Joshua Hale Fialkov, he's a decorated veteran of Top Cow's Pilot Season contest. Last year, he was one of two winners with the Cyblade, which is currently in production. This year, he goes for two-of-two with Pilot Season: Alibi with artist Jeremy Haun. As are most of this year's herd, Pilot Season: Alibi is a completely new story and characters, in this case it's some classic spy fiction. READ MORE.

The perfect killer always has an airtight alibi. But can anyone be in two places at once? John Stephens can. He’s always a suspect whenever a high-profile target is taken out, but he always gets off scot-free because he’s off somewhere else, having the time of his life. How can he be responsible? The authorities may be fooled, but now someone knows his secret, and John is going to have to face the consequences. - From the people’s choice Joshua Hale Fialkov (Pilot Season: Cyblade, Marvel Comics Presents) and artist Jeremy Haun (Civil War: Iron Man/Captain America, The Leading Man). - Full Color, 32 pages, $3.99, pilot issue, in store: June 25th

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Super heroes. Super villains. The never-ending struggle. But what if that battle could end? The world would rejoice. No more bad guys endangering the innocent. People could walk the streets feeling safe, just enjoying life. But who's to say the heroes would win that fight? We always just assume that good prevails over evil. What would happen if the final battle was waged and the villains came out on top? Wanted answers that question. Published by Top Cow Productions, Wanted is a vision of a world where the big fight happened and the bad guys won. Not only do they win, but they either kill or horribly defeat the heroes and remake the world to their (The Fraternity's) specifications. And that's not even giving away the plot. READ MORE.

Fans of Virgin Comics’ Devi and Top Cow’s Sara Pezzini take note as part two of their crossover will be coming to store shelves shortly. In the meantime, we’ve got a little advance look for all you lucky Quarterbingers. Hit the jump to see what happens when these two femm-fatales team up. READ MORE.

Though Angelina Jolie is soon expecting twins, we snagged a coveted exclusive video interview with the star on the eve of her turn as a sexy assassin in Timur Bekmambetov's high-octane action flick, Wanted. What are you waiting for?? Watch it now.

Jolie kindly sat down with Rotten Tomatoes to discuss Wanted, the major studio debut of acclaimed Russian director Timur Bekmambetov (Night Watch). In it, she plays a sultry assassin named The Fox -- and although it sounds utterly ridiculous for the world's most beautiful woman to say so, Jolie admits to us that she never watches footage of her scenes: "I can't watch myself."

Click below to watch and hear Angelina Jolie discuss Wanted's mysterious body of killers, "The Fraternity," on working with Bekmambetov and co-star James McAvoy, and catch a glimpse of a few of Wanted's most audacious action scenes. WATCH THE INTERVIEW.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Director Timur Bekmambetov is well known for his wildly successful Russian vampire epics “Night Watch” and “Day Watch,” two of the biggest films the history in Russian Cinema, which made big in-roads in the United States and around the world. Based on the Top Cow graphic novel, “Wanted” brings the director, for the first time, to English language filmmaking. Bekmambetov believes, however, that the comic book film is not that different from his previous work. “It’s a similar idea because there is a purpose for everything, and it’s the same for ‘Night Watch’ and ‘Day Watch.’ We’re living ordinary lives and we don’t know what’s happening next to us,” Berkmambetov told CBR News. “And it’s very intriguing for people because everybody thinks there’s something important happening next to us and we don’t know about it.” READ MORE.

In “Wanted,” musician and actor Rashid Lynn, Jr. -- better known as Common -- features as the Gunsmith. He is part of the support team which includes Angelina Jolie’s character, Fox, and Marc Warren’s Repairman. Together, they train James McAvoy’s character in the Assassin arts. The Gunsmith also maintains the arsenal the Fraternity (the league of killers in the film) uses through the story. For Common, the role continued an education with guns that began on earlier productions. READ MORE.

Scottish actor James McAvoy is best known for starring in such serious, award-wining movies as The Last King of Scotland and Atonement — which is precisely why the role of pantywaist turned assassin Wesley Gibson in Wanted appealed to him. READ MORE.

Superman Leaped 40 years' worth of tall buildings on the printed page before he landed his first feature film, in 1978. In 2003, Wesley Gibson, the cubicle-dwelling assassin in Mark Millar's nihilist graphic novel Wanted, had producers circling before his first issue even went to print. Millar's work is unlikely source material for a big-budget movie; one of his obscenely named villains is made of fecal matter from 666 evildoers, including Adolf Hitler and Jeffrey Dahmer. Nevertheless, Wanted is now a glossy summer action movie starring James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman, directed by new-to-big-studio-movies Russian Timur Bekmambetov. READ MORE.

These days, life is good for Terence Stamp. He gets to play the villain in “Get Smart,” everywhere he goes people want to kneel before Zod, and when I caught up with him recently, he was kicking back in a pair of pink Crocs. READ MORE.